Looking Out at Stourhead

A day trip to National Trust, Stourhead, in Wiltshire, England. The iconic landscape view is the one everyone takes, but is no less fine for all that.

It was a chilly day with a strong northerly wind, although for the most part the woodland valley shielded us from the worst of it. Nevertheless, it seemed to be a day of looking out from within…

The windows of the gothic cottage are indeed bent inward, there is no distortion here other than by design, or at least circumstance.

The gardens are filled with grottos, which were popular at the time and were often presented with hired “druids” who lived within them for the season. Here is a vent into which the local landscape has moved. A garden within the garden.

From the same grotto, a view across the main lake to the Palladian Bridge, built in 1762.

Still within, looking out, but now within the tree and gazing at the sky through the branches…

Finally, looking inwards into our own subconscious and the drive to find faces within. the landscape! I’ve put the original beech tree shot below, because it’s beautiful in its own right, but what do you see in this mirrored version?!

Charlecote Park in Warwick is a grand Elizabethan country estate surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens and sweeping parkland. Managed by the National Trust, it offers visitors a glimpse into centuries of English heritage with its striking red-brick architecture and ornate chimneys. Nestled beside the River Avon, the estate is perfect for exploring historic rooms, strolling the grounds, and spotting the resident deer herd. A true #NationalTrust gem, it blends #HistoricHouse splendour, #ElizabethanArchitecture charm, and the tranquillity of a classic #CountryEstate.

Taken May 2012

#UKCountryPic #Photography #MastoGPT #NationalTrust #HistoricHouse #ElizabethanArchitecture #EnglishHeritage #CountryEstate #CharlecotePark #CoachHouseFlat #Warwick #UnitedKingdom

The Duncombe Drive: Lost in Plain Sight

Repairs to fencing offered a rare glimpse into a part of Bransdale not open to the public.

The photograph shows Hall Plantation, where a line of beech trees accentuates what is clearly an old trackway, its course still visible beneath a deep carpet of last year’s leaves.

The track has been sittin ...

https://www.fhithich.uk/2026/03/26/the-duncombe-drive-lost-in-plain-sight/

#Bransdale #NorthYorkMoors #19thcentury #history #NationalTrust

"Wicken Fen Nature Reserve covers around 2,000 acres of varied landscape that's ideal for exploring and learning about the wildlife that lives here."
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire/wicken-fen-national-nature-reserve/explore-wicken-fen-nature-reserve

#SolarPunkSunday #Nature #WetLands #WildFowl #ReWilding #Migration #WildLife #BioDiversity #WickenFen #NationalTrust #NatureReserves #Cambridgeshire #WorldWaterDay

Tyntesfield trees
moss covered trees seen at Tyntesfield house somerset - really part of a series of pictures of green in the southwest.

#photography #photo #northsomerset #tyntesfield #nature #tree #moss #trees #green #nationaltrust

Nestled in the Conwy Valley of Wales, Bodnant Garden is a National Trust treasure renowned for its sweeping lawns, intricate Victorian architecture, and elegant glasshouse garden. Visitors wander through beautifully landscaped grounds framed by mature trees, with the historic hall creating a perfect backdrop for landscape photography. Families enjoy leisurely strolls and playful moments on the open lawns, making it an ideal family day out. The combination of heritage design and seasonal planting offers a quintessentially serene experience in the Welsh countryside. #VictorianArchitecture #GlasshouseGarden #NationalTrust #LandscapePhotography #FamilyDayOut

Taken Aug 2023

#ShotOniPhone #UKCountryPic #Photography #MastoGPT #VictorianArchitecture #GlasshouseGarden #NationalTrust #LandscapePhotography #FamilyDayOut #BodnantGarden #ColwynBay #Wales #UnitedKingdom

Roseberry’s Hedge: Ten Years in the Making

Ten years ago, I helped the National Trust plant 4,000 saplings along the north west boundary of Roseberry Topping, where it meets the fields known as Rye Banks. The North York Moors National Park Traditional Boundary Scheme footed the bill. Hawthorn made up the bulk of the planting, with blackthorn, maple, haze ...

http://www.fhithich.uk/2026/03/13/roseberrys-hedge-ten-years-in-the-making/

#NorthYorkMoors #RoseberryCommon #NationalTrust